The following is a list of notable people associated with

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

. These people were born or lived in Grand Rapids.

Artists and artisans

* Mathias Alten — impressionist painter * Jeffrey Brown — comic book creator * Frederick Stuart Church — illustrator *

Kreigh Collins Kreigh Collins may refer to: * Kreigh Collins (tennis) * Kreigh Collins (cartoonist) {{hndis, Collins, Kreigh ...

— painter; cartoonist * Paul Collins — painter *

Dirk Gringhuis Richard H. Gringhuis (September 22, 1918 – March 1974) was an American artist and illustrator. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he studied from 1939 to 1941 at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, lived in New York for a year, then moved back ...

— illustrator * Daniel Vosovic — clothing designer

Business, industry, academic and labor figures

Criminals

Gwendolyn Graham and Cathy Wood Gwendolyn Gail Graham (born August 6, 1963) and Catherine May Wood (born March 7, 1962) are American serial killers convicted of killing five elderly women in Walker, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, in 1987. They committed their crimes in ...

Entertainment figures

Gillian Anderson Gillian Leigh Anderson ( ; born August 9, 1968) is an American actress, writer, and activist. She is best known for her roles as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in the sci-fi series ''The X-Files'' (1993–2002; 2016–2018), Lily Bart in the dr ...

— television and film actress *

Ford Beebe Ford Ingalsbe Beebe (November 26, 1888 – November 26, 1978) was a screenwriter and Film director, director. He entered the film business as a writer around 1916 and over the next 60 years wrote and/or directed almost 200 films. He specialized ...

— film director *

Otto Brower Otto Brower (December 2, 1890 – January 25, 1946) was an American film director. He directed more than 40 films between 1928 and 1946. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and died in Hollywood, California, from a myocardial infarction, ...

— film director *

James T. Callahan James Callahan may refer to: Sports * James Callahan (ice hockey), founder of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925 * Nixey Callahan (1874–1934), also known as Jimmy Callahan, baseball pitcher and manager * Jim Callahan (baseball) (1881–1968), baseb ...

— film and television actor * Horace B. Carpenter — film actor and director * Jim Cash — screenwriter * Riley Chamberlin — silent film actor *

Rex Cherryman Rexford Raymond "Rex" Cherryman (October 30, 1896 – August 10, 1928) was an American actor of the stage and screen whose career was most prolific during the 1920s. Biography Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest cit ...

— stage and film actor *

Shawn Christian Shawn Patrick Christian (born December 18, 1965) is an American television and film actor. Life and career After graduating from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, in 1989 with a degree in marketing, he moved to Chicago to pur ...

— television and film actor * Wanda Cochran — soprano *

Steven Ford Steven Meigs Ford (born May 19, 1956) is an American actor, and the youngest son of former U.S. President Gerald Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford. He is perhaps best known for playing Andy Richards in the soap opera ''The Young and the Res ...

— television and film actor * Stephen Goosson — film set designer *

Lorna Gray Virginia Pound (July 26, 1917 – April 30, 2017), known professionally as Lorna Gray and (after 1945) Adrian Booth, was an American film actress known for her comic roles, and later as a villainess. She is best known for her roles in Colum ...

— film actress * Stacey Haiduk — television actress *

Thom Hartmann Thomas Carl Hartmann (born May 7, 1951) is an American radio personality, author, businessman, and progressivism, progressive pundit, political commentator. Hartmann has been hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, ''The Thom Hartmann Progr ...

— radio personality *

Paul Walter Hauser Paul Walter Hauser (born October 15, 1986) is an American actor and wrestler. He is best known for his portrayal of Stingray in the Netflix series ''Cobra Kai'' and providing the voice of Embarrassment in Pixar's ''Inside Out 2'' (2024). He pla ...

— television and film actor and comedian * Adam Herz — screenwriter and producer *

Phillips Holmes Phillips Raymond Holmes (July 22, 1907 – August 12, 1942) was an American actor. For his contributions to the film industry, he was posthumously given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Early life, education and career Born in ...

— early film actor *

Jimmy Jacobs Christopher Scoville (born February 17, 1984) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jimmy Jacobs. He is best known for his 12-year career in Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a List of ROH Wor ...

— professional wrestler * Matt Keeslar — television and film actor * Lisa Kelly — ice road trucker * James Kirkwood Sr. — film actor and director *

Eric Allan Kramer Eric Allan Kramer (born March 26, 1962) is an American actor. He is known to television audiences for his roles as Scott Miller on AMC's '' Lodge 49'', Dave Rogers on ''The Hughleys'', and Bob Duncan on the Disney Channel sitcom '' Good Luck Cha ...

— television, film and stage actor *

Taylor Lautner Taylor Daniel Lautner ( ; born February 11, 1992) is an American actor. He is best known for playing werewolf Jacob Black in ''The Twilight Saga (film series), The Twilight Saga'' film series (2008–2012). His accolades include a Scream Awar ...

— television and film actor * Victor Lundberg — radio personality * C. Cameron Macauley — filmmaker * Violet MacMillan — vaudeville, stage and silent film actress * Kevin Matthews — radio personality *

Ryan O'Reilly Ryan O'Reilly (born February 7, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains, alternate captain for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has prev ...

— professional wrestler *

Colleen O'Shaughnessey Colleen Ann O'Shaughnessey (born September 15, 1971) is an American voice actress. She is known for providing the voice to Jazz Fenton in '' Danny Phantom'' and Wasp in '' The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes''. Since 2010, O'Shaughnessey ha ...

— voice actress *

Wally Phillips Walter Phillips (July 7, 1925 – March 26, 2008) was an American radio personality best known for hosting WGN's morning radio show from Chicago for 21 years from January 1965 until July 1986, and was number one in the morning slot from 1968 ...

— radio personality *

Don Quinn Don Quinn (November 18, 1900 – December 30, 1967) was an American comedy writer who started out as a cartoonist based in Chicago. According to sources, Quinn's career as a cartoonist was short-lived but his career as a writer began after he rea ...

— comedy writer and cartoonist *

Andy Richter Paul Andrew Richter (born October 28, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and talk show announcer. He is best known as the sidekick for Conan O'Brien on O'Brien's talk shows: '' Late Night'' and ''The Tonight Show'' on NBC and '' Cona ...

— television and film actor * Leonard Schrader — screenwriter and director *

Paul Schrader Paul Joseph Schrader (; born July 22, 1946) is an American screenwriter, film director, and film critic. He first became known for writing the screenplay of Martin Scorsese's ''Taxi Driver'' (1976). He later continued his collaboration with Scor ...

— screenwriter and director * Richard Shoberg — television actor *

Noah Sife Noah Sife is an American actor based Los Angeles, California. His television credits include ''The Shield'', and a brief Improv Show on MTV starring Andy Dick. He is also the star of the internet show entitled ''The Adventures of Noah Sife'', H ...

— television actor *

Jackie Swanson Jackie Swanson (born June 25, 1963) is an American actress. She is best known for her role on the American sitcom ''Cheers'' as Kelly Gaines the rich, simple love interest of Woody Boyd and as Amanda Hunsaker in the first ''Lethal Weapon'' movi ...

— television and film actress *

Ray Teal Ray Elgin Teal (January 12, 1902The book ''Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory'' gives Teal's birth date as January 12, 1908. – April 2, 1976) was an American actor. His most famous role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee on the televis ...

— television and film actor *

Reed Timmer Reed Timmer (born March 17, 1980) is an American meteorologist and storm chasing, storm chaser. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he took an interest in science, including weather, at a young age, before experiencing severe weather, including a ...

— storm chaser and meteorologist *

Jess Walton Jess Walton is a Canadian-American actress, best known for her role as Kelly Harper in CBS soap opera '' Capitol'' and as Jill Abbott on the CBS soap opera, ''The Young and the Restless''. Early life Walton was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, ...

— television actress *

Elizabeth Wilson Elizabeth Welter Wilson (April 4, 1921 – May 9, 2015) was an American actress whose career spanned nearly 60 years, including memorable roles in film and television. In 1972 she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for ...

— stage, television and film actress *

Dick York Richard Allen York (September 4, 1928 – February 20, 1992) was an American actor. He was the first actor to play Darrin Stephens on the ABC fantasy sitcom ''Bewitched''. He played teacher Bertram Cates in the film '' Inherit the Wind'' (1960) ...

— television, stage, radio and film actor *

Ginger Zee Ginger Renée Colonomos (née Zuidgeest; born January 13, 1981), known by her pseudonym Ginger Zee, is an American television personality. She is the chief meteorologist for ABC News, after having been the network's weekend meteorologist. Early ...

— ABC News meteorologist *

Kim Zimmer Kimberly Jo Zimmer (born February 2, 1955) is an American actress, best known for her role as Reva Shayne on the CBS soap opera ''Guiding Light''. For this portrayal, she has won four Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama ...

— television and stage actress

Government officials, politicians and activists

Gretchen Whitmer Gretchen Esther Whitmer (; born August 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of R ...

— Governor of Michigan * Roger Wilkins — U.S. Assistant Attorney General. Attended Creston High School

Military figures

Musicians and bands

* Pennjamin Bannekar — independent music artist and songwriter *

Dave Bixby David Bixby is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his folk album ''Ode to Quetzalcoatl'' (1969) and his leadership in crafting the Harbinger Orchestra. Early life Bixby graduated high school in 1968 and became involved in the coun ...

— folk musician * Ralston Bowles — folk musician * Mary Canberg — violinist * The Cardboard Swords — pop-rock band *

Jeffrey Daniel Jeffrey Glen Daniel (born August 24, 1955) is an American dancer, singer-songwriter, and choreographer, and a founding member of the R&B vocal group Shalamar. In Nigeria, he is best known as a judge on the first three seasons of '' Nigerian ...

— member of R&B group

Shalamar Shalamar () is an American R&B and soul music vocal group created by Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius in 1977 and active throughout the 1980s. Shalamar's classic lineup on the SOLAR label consisted of Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey D ...

Xavier Davis Xavier Davis (born 1971 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and music educator who leads the Xavier Davis Trio. In addition to performing with the Christian McBride Big Band and other groups as a s ...

— jazz pianist *

DeBarge DeBarge was an American musical recording group composed of several members of the DeBarge family. In addition to various solo projects completed by members of the family, DeBarge was active between 1979 and 1989. The group originally consiste ...

— R&B/soul group * Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen — vocalist (formerly of Toto) *

Al Green Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), known professionally as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer. He is best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including " Tired of ...

— R&B/soul singer * Bob Hay — member of the Squalls *

Adina Howard Adina Marie Howard (born November 14, 1973) is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to fame during the mid-1990s with her debut album, ''Do You Wanna Ride?'' and her debut single, "Freak like Me". Some of her other minor hit record, hits ...

— R&B singer *

Charlie Huhn Charles Hartley Huhn (born January 11, 1951) is an American rock singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player. He got his start in Grand Rapids, Michigan, playing with local groups Cirrus, Tanglewood, and Vic Amato & Co before joining Ted ...

— frontman for

Foghat Foghat are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1971. The band is known for the use of electric slide guitar in its music. Their best known song is the 1975 hit "Slow Ride". The band has released 17 studio albums, including ei ...

Maynard James Keenan Maynard James Keenan (born James Herbert Keenan; April 17, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, philanthropist, record producer, and winemaker. He is best known as the singer and primary lyricist of the rock bands Tool (band), Tool, A Perfe ...

— lead singer of

Tool A tool is an Physical object, object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many Tool use by animals, animals use simple tools, only human bei ...

Anthony Kiedis Anthony Kiedis ( ; born November 1, 1962) is an American musician and lead vocalist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis and his fellow band members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Kiedis spent his youth in ...

— lead singer of the

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

La the Darkman Lason Jackson (born July 23, 1979), better known as La the Darkman, is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated rapper and MC. Biography Jackson was born in New York City, New York and grew up Crown Heights, Brooklyn with his brother William Jackson. He negoti ...

— hip hop artist affiliated with

Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, O ...

* La Dispute — post-hardcore group * Robert Longfield — composer *

Kevin Max Kevin Max Smith (born August 17, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk. As a solo artist following the band going on hiatus, he has recorded 12 full-length st ...

— member of dc Talk * Ken Medema — Christian musician *

Kellin Quinn Kellin Quinn Bostwick (born April 24, 1986) is an American singer and musician. He is the lead vocalist and keyboardist of the post-hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens. He is known for his distinctive, high-pitched vocals and for collaborating wi ...

— member of post-hardcore/alternative rock band

Sleeping With Sirens Sleeping with Sirens is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida, currently residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band currently consists of Kellin Quinn (lead vocals, keyboards), Nick Martin (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Justin Hills ...

* John W. Peterson — Christian songwriter *

Mustard Plug Mustard Plug is an American ska punk band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, consisting of Dave Kirchgessner (vocals), Brandon Jenison (trumpet), Jim Hofer (trombone), Nate Cohn (drums), Colin Clive (guitar/vocals), Mark Petz ...

— ska punk group *

Pop Evil Pop Evil is an American rock band that was formed in North Muskegon, Michigan, in 2001 by Leigh Kakaty. The band's roots reside in TenFive, a group formed in the late-1990s by Kakaty and guitarist Jason Reed. Pop Evil has several songs that to ...

— hard rock band *

Marvin Sapp Marvin Louis Sapp (born January 28, 1967) is an American Gospel musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Early life and education Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sapp began singing in church at age four. In third grade he ...

— gospel singer, and member of the group Commissioned *

Del Shannon Charles Weedon Westover (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990), better known by his stage name Del Shannon, was an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known for his 1961 number-one ''Billboard'' hit " Runaway", which was covered la ...

— rock & roll musician *

Sleeping with Sirens Sleeping with Sirens is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida, currently residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band currently consists of Kellin Quinn (lead vocals, keyboards), Nick Martin (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Justin Hills ...

— alternative rock/post-hardcore band *

SoFaygo Andre Dontrel Burt Jr. (born October 3, 2001), better known by his stage name SoFaygo (formerly stylized as $ofaygo), is an American rapper and singer. His 2019 single, " Knock Knock", went viral on TikTok in late 2020 before it received platinum ...

— rapper *

Leo Sowerby Leo Salkeld Sowerby (1 May 1895 – 7 July 1968) was an American composer and church musician. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1946 and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid-20th century. His many s ...

— composer and musician *

Still Remains Still Remains is an American metalcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan. They formed out of previous local bands Shades of Amber and Unition. They released three studio albums, '' Of Love and Lunacy'', '' The Serpent'' and ''Ceasing to Breathe' ...

— metalcore group *

Casey Stratton Casey Stratton (born October 16, 1976) is a pop/rock singer, songwriter, and musician. Early life and education Casey Stratton was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1976. He has lived in Los Angeles, California, Chicago, Illinois and New York City. S ...

— pop/rock musician * Sam Stryke — composer and pianist * Helena Stone Torgerson — harpist and composer * Whirlwind Heat — alternative rock group *

Willie the Kid Willie the Kid (foaled 1937 in Ontario) was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse best known for winning the eighty-first running of the King's Plate, Canada's most important race and the oldest continuously run race in North America, h ...

— rapper * Jason Wood — lead singer of

It Dies Today It Dies Today (sometimes abbreviated "IDT") is an American metalcore band formed in Buffalo, New York, in September 2001. The band achieved success in 2004 with the release of their debut album, '' The Caitiff Choir''. After frontman Nicholas Br ...

Religious figures

Science

* Roger Chaffee — NASA astronaut, U.S. Navy lieutenant commander *

Jewell James Ebers Jewell James Ebers (November 25, 1921 – March 30, 1959) was an American electrical engineer who is remembered for the mathematical model of the bipolar junction transistor that he published with John L. Moll in 1954. The Ebers-Moll model of ...

— transistor-theory electrical engineer * Christina Koch — NASA astronaut, engineer * Jack R. Lousma — NASA astronaut, U.S. Marine Corps colonel * Lynn Rogers — biologist

Sports figures

Writers, novelists, poets and journalists

References

{{Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...